Fablehaven

Ever since my imagination was first captivated by timeless classics like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit, then more recently, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and the Bartimaeus books by Jonathan Stroud, I've been desperate to find other books that are just as wonderful, whimsical, magical, and most importantly, well-written. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull was everything I've been searching for in a fantasy classic appropriate for all ages. I fell in love with this story from the first paragraph to the very last page and my imagination delighted in every word. The tale opens with two children, Kendra and Seth, riding in the family car on their way to stay with their elusive grandparents for seventeen days while their parents go on a cruise. The children don't know their father's parents that well because the older folks seem to keep to themselves most of the time, so the prospect of being left with these "strangers" is a little frightening for the children. And their grandfather had seemed quite reluctant to have the children left in his care as well, which only added to the mystery. Once the family finally reaches their destination, everyone is immediately taken in by the wondrous beauty of the old house and estate. After the goodbyes are said, Grandpa kindly ushers the children up to the attic and into the room they will be sharing - a room that seems especially designed to delight children, and then he instructs the kids about the rules of the household they are expected to follow. I won't spoil the story for anyone, but the excited children quickly adapt to their amazing surroundings, playing with really cool old toys, painting, swimming in the pool, watching all the many varieties of birds and butterflies in the lush gardens, and curiously exploring the estate. Soon, childhood curiosity leads to breaking some of Grandpa's house rules while he is away tending chores. That is when the really wild adventures begin. Soon Kendra and Seth discover a whole new magical world that they never dreamed could exist and quickly find themselves on the greatest challenge of their lives - to save themselves, their family, and the magical sanctuary called Fablehaven. This whimsical tale is extremely well-written and brilliantly executed, with interesting, believable characters and very funny dialogue (I found myself laughing many times at the playful banter between the children). Fablehaven is a fantastic treat for anyone's imagination and is sure to delight readers of ALL ages. This is a book I wish I'd had when I was a child. What a fantastic read! Very highly recommend. UPDATE 2/5/15 - Just finished reading all 5 books in the Fablehaven series (I couldn't stop myself!) and every single book is as thrilling or even more fantastic than the previous one! Such a wonderful adventure this has been! I am so happy to find an author whose family-friendly books I enjoy just as much as Jonathan Stroud's books and I anticipate reading everything I can get my hands on by Brandon Mull. Each book in the Fablehaven series gets a big, shiny 5 stars from me because I know other readers of all ages will love and treasure these books just as much as I do!

This was technically a re-read for me, but since the first time I read this book was in seventh grade (that's about six years ago) it was like reading it for the first time. The only thing I remembered was that I liked it a lot, and that the satyrs were funny. Neither of those facts changed. Fablehaven is about Kendra and Seth, a brother and sister who go to stay part of the summer with their rather reclusive grandfather (they're grandmother is mysteriously absent). While there they discover that not all is what it seems and that they're grandparents run a place called Fablehaven- a haven for the magical creatures. Very few things there are safe, and Kendra and Seth have a lot to learn if they're ever going to be the caretakers. This is one of those books I think everyone should read. I know it's a middle grade book, but like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson it is just as enjoyable for older readers. For one, it doesn't "talk down" to the readers. It treats everyone like a knowledgable reader and the mystery and plot have enough twists and turns for anyone to enjoy. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It also completely transported me to the world of Fablehaven, and the setting was so pervasive I found myself daydreaming about it in my spare time. A major plus for this book was the two main characters. While Kendra is the protagonist for most of the story, Seth does get a bit of spotlight. They're both super realistic, actually acting their age (she's in eighth grade, he's in sixth) in many ways without being too immature. I will admit that Seth did become a bit annoying, since he causes quite a few problems, but I'm fairly certain this will allow readers to really watch him grow up over the course of the series. The best part about them was their relationship- they acted like real siblings! I cannot count the number of times I've found a sibling relationship to so closely mirror the one I have with my brother. It was so refreshing to see the regular bickering and teasing without making either of them seem like a brat. It also allowed me to connect a ton with Kendra, who's a very likable heroine. So I'd definitely recommend this to everyone. It's perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, for sure. It's really just one of the best middle grade novels I've read in a while, and I can't wait to read many, many more in this series (which has, thankfully, been completed so I won't have to wait between novels).

A magical book for both boys and girls from age 10 -14, although I also loved it while reading it to my 10 year old son. It's the traditional good v. evil battle, and very well written with some great unexpected twists. I can recommend it both as an English teacher of age 11+ students and as a mother of 2 boys who loved it.

Simply Amazing! If you're a fan of fantasy and read C.S.Lewis, R.R.Tolkien or J.K Rowling, then this is a MUST READ! Love the fantastical world, Brandon Mull has created. As much as i want to go to Hogwarts, I would give anything to visit Fablehaven as well.

Great book for middle school readers and fun for adults too

Me fascinó! Nega recomendado!

Ich kann hier nur mitteilen was mein Sohn (13) gesagt hat, der dieses Buch zu Weihnachten bekam. Er hat das Buch verschlungen und danach sogleich sein Taschengeld geopfert um sich die anderen Bände dieser Serie zu holen. Er ist absolut begeistert und hat beim Lesen überhaupt nicht bemerkt das es ein englisches Buch war. Sodaß wir die anderen auch als englische Bücher dann aufs Kindle geladen haben. Es sind Jugendbücher, die aber mit allem was Fantasy zu bieten hat ausgestattet sind. Da die Helden Geschwister (Mädchen und Junge) und Jugendliche sind, fällt die Identifikation des jugendlichen Lesers sehr leicht. Ich habe jetzt nur das Problem das ich um mein Kindle kämpfen muss.